stumbled on this today and totally get the stress. I was in your shoes last year and went with the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art for L-Mount. I've been so happy with the low light performance, it just works. Quick question tho, how big is the venue? The Sigma 28-70mm F2.8 DG DN Contemporary is lighter, but 28mm felt way too narrow for me during the reception dance floor shots.

Unfortunately, I had issues with those lighter zoom options; the weather sealing and build werent as good as expected for a professional wedding environment. Honestly, the 70mm reach feels quite narrow during ceremonies. You should consider the Samyang AF 35-150mm F2-2.8 L.

• Fast f/2-2.8 aperture for dim receptions
• Replaces several lenses in one body It is admittedly heavy, but missing a critical shot because you're busy swapping glass is much worse.

Honestly, weddings are brutal on your gear and your back, so i get the panic. If you go with the Panasonic LUMIX S 24-105mm F4 Macro O.I.S. you get that extra reach, but be careful with that f/4 aperture once the reception starts. Most venues are like caves and you might find yourself struggling with grain if you dont have a fast prime as backup. I would suggest looking at the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN Art L-mount instead of the smaller 28-70. That 24mm wide end is pretty much mandatory for group shots in tight rooms. The 28-70 is light, but you might really regret missing that wider perspective during the ceremony. Just make sure to check the weight because the Art lens is heavy... your wrists are gonna feel it after ten hours, but the image quality is worth it. Youll do great, just stay calm.

omg im literally in the same boat right now for a huge event next month and the anxiety is real!! the reliability factor is just so scary for paid work when youre using the Panasonic Lumix S5II. totally agree with KitchenAidzti about the build quality tho:

• some of those lighter lenses have zero weather sealing gaskets
• stepping motors can be a bit sluggish compared to linear ones
• plastic mounts just feel like they might snap during a long day basically obsessed with checking the ip ratings and lens construction diagrams right now lol... its honestly exhausting trying to find the perfect balance between weight and not having the lens fail mid-ceremony!

Building on the earlier suggestion, I stumbled on this thread and wanted to chime in since I have put a lot of miles on these lenses. I am honestly so happy with the Sigma 24-70mm F2.8 DG DN II Art L-mount. I know the older version was mentioned, but the Mark II is a totally different experience because it is much lighter and the autofocus is basically instant on the S5II. I have to politely disagree with going for that Samyang 35-150mm tho. It is a beast of a lens but it is just way too heavy for a long wedding day... your wrists will be killing you by the reception. I have also owned the Panasonic LUMIX S PRO 24-70mm F2.8 for years and while it is built like a tank, it usually sits above your $1200 budget unless you find a lucky deal.

• Sigma Mark II: super light, fits your budget, great aperture ring for video
• Panasonic S Pro: amazing focus clutch, pro build, but very heavy and pricey Honestly, the Sigma Mark II works so well that I havent had a single complaint since I switched. It is reliable and wont let you down during the ceremony. You are gonna do great, just take a deep breath!

Man I wish I found this thread sooner. Would have saved me so much hassle.

Exactly what I was thinking